Items tagged with Gogo
Gogo raked in record revenue of $104 million for its fiscal third quarter of 2014, up 22 percent year-over-year, however the company has also been spending a great deal on expanding its in-flight Wi-Fi service to more airlines. As a result, Gogo ended up posting a $24.9 million loss for the quarter, or $0.29 per share, compared to a loss of $18.7 million, or $0.22 per share a year ago. Though the company couldn't manage to climb out of the red, Gogo President and CEO Michael Small was pleased with the performance as he keeps an eye towards long-term growth. In order to set the company up for that, Small has to make investments into getting Gogo's service offered on more airlines. "We announced...
Read more...
In-flight wireless is a godsend if you’re stuck on a plane for three hours and have a lot of work you need to get done, and provider GoGo is upping its speeds even as it pushes forward with new technology to provide its service. GoGo is developing a worldwide 70Mbps solution, which blows past what it could offer before. "When we launched our in-flight Internet service five years ago, we were able to deliver peak speeds to the aircraft of 3.1 Mbps through our ATG network. About a year ago, we began deployment of our next generation ATG-4 service, which took peak speeds to 9.8 Mbps,” said GoGo CEO Michael Small. Using its Ground-to-Orbit (GTO) technology, GoGo could offer 70Mbps speeds...
Read more...
There's progress, and then there's going too far. While you won't find too many technology lovers who are opposed to having Wi-Fi below 10,000 feet or being able to leave one's Kindle on from gate-to-gate, there's a fine line here that may soon be crossed. Enabling connectivity in the sky is a godsend for those who fly frequently and need to get work done, but by and large, all of this happens at a low volume level. The noise of one's keyboard is largely drowned out by the rumble of the airline engines, and there's a good reason that most in-flight Wi-Fi services don't allow VoIP or video calls. The airline is a cramped place, and any semblance of privacy is precious. But, a new report suggests...
Read more...
GoGo, known for its in-flight Internet connectivity service, is expanding its reach from WiFi access to texts and phone calls. Users will ostensibly be able to send text messages and receive phone calls at 30,000 feet using their own smartphones and an app found in the App Store or Google Play store. On the one hand, this is huge news for flyers who want to stay in touch with friends, family, or colleagues on the ground; on the other hand, it’s easy to envision a dystopian future where economy class is a wasteland of one-sided conversations filled with detailed descriptions of medical conditions, swoony lovers who can’t bear to be apart for three hours, heated arguments, mind-numbingly...
Read more...
Rumors have been flying (har!) for nearly a year that the Federal Aviation Administration would at long last enable carriers to relax the archaic rules that barred passengers from using electronic devices during take-off and landing. The spiel has always been that those devices and their mysterious frequencies could potentially screw with the navigation system on the aircraft, and in a worst-case scenario, could cause a crash. Of course, that really never proved to be true. Still, change in the airline industry happens at a comically slow pace, so it's no real surprise to see that it has taken until now for the FAA to give the green light to the proposal. The entity will require airline carriers...
Read more...
The onset of digital downlaods has drastically changed the way Hollywood thinks about its future revenues, and while the tried-and-true cinema release is still making boatloads of money for the top-tier movies, the MPAA realizes that habits are changing. Consumers simply expect more content, faster, and in ways that they're comfortable consuming. Couple that with upstarts like Gogo, and you've got a match made in heaven. Gogo, the company responsible for hooking thousands of planes across the U.S. up with in-flight Wi-Fi, has just announced a new partnership that could place major motion pictures in planes prior to cinemas. Imagine that. The deal involes Magnolia Pictures, and it's being used...
Read more...
Flying soon? Thinking of taking advantage of in-flight Wi-Fi? If you're nodding 'yes' for both of those, and you recently picked up one of BlackBerry's new Z10 smartphones, you're in luck. In a bid to lure enterprise / business travelers, BlackBerry has cracked open a deal with Gogo in order to provide free in-flight Internet access to those browsing on the new phone. Specifically, you'll need to be on a domestic Delta flight, but beyond that, there aren't any extra hoops to jump through. The system has been coded to detect when a Z10 browser is requesting access, and if found, will allow the user to hop on for free. You'll just need to wait till you're above 10,000 feet... for now, anyway....
Read more...
The friendly skies are becoming the connected skies. While getting up in an airplane used to be one of the few remaining places in America where it was pretty much impossible to reach someone, the introduction of in-flight Wi-Fi has drastically changed that. Many airlines have Gogo installed near fleet-wide, with the likes of Virgin America and JetBlue having it on every single aircraft. And now, a legacy carrier is making a push to catch up in terms of availability of in-flight Internet. American Airlines' new Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 deliveries will arrive with something special: Ku-band satellite support and Gogo's next generation Air to Ground technology - ATG-4. While Gogo's existing...
Read more...
When it comes to flying in the U.S., and dealing with either the FCC or the FAA, "red tape" comes to mind. It's a heavily regulated industry, and with safety at the forefront, there's at least somewhat of an excuse. But, it's still no fun to deal with, particularly if you're waiting for Wi-Fi to come to your favorite airline. But now, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Report and Order establishing rules to help speed the deployment of Internet services onboard aircraft. In other words, this action allows in-flight Wi-Fi providers to get their equipment certified faster and installed with fewer delays. Here's the word straight from the horse's mouth: "The Report and Order formalizes...
Read more...
In-flight Wi-Fi is one of those strange technologies. On one hand, it feels like the future. Being able to get online while cruising at 500MPH+, some 35,000 feet in the air, is truly venturing into Jetsons territory. But on the other hand, paying $12+ per session, and barely being able to load your e-mail, is a really frustrating experience. As Gogo's services have become more popular, and used by more and more people on planes, the overall speed has slumped. These days, it's more of a frustration than anything else when it comes to getting actual work done on an airplane Wi-Fi connection. Clearly, Gogo knows that current speeds aren't acceptable for the future. With other rivals looking to satellite-based...
Read more...
Can there ever be enough Wi-Fi in the sky? Conventional wisdom says "no," and it's a good thing, too. Gogo, the company responsible for providing in-air Internet to the vast majority of U.S. domestic flights, is doing everything it can to provide similar services in Canada. The goal here is to provide seamless connectivity service between U.S. and Canada for both commercial and business aviation, and considering just how many flights there are between the two nations each day (not to mention those flights to Alaska that spend most of their time in Canadian space), it's probably a goal worth pursuing. Announced this week, Industry Canada has issued Gogo a subordinate license for Canada's air-to-ground...
Read more...
While loads of people in rural places are still fighting for legitimate broadband, high flyers will be getting broadband while 30,000 feet above those very locales. Crazy? Not quite -- it's called in-flight Internet, and it's improving at a wildly fast clip. Gogo has just announced it has extended its contract with United Airlines and will work with United Airlines to upgrade its p.s. Premium Service fleet to Gogo's new ATG-4 connectivity solution. If you aren't familiar with that service, it's a special flight from NYC to SFO/LAX that hooks patrons up with nicer seating options throughout the cabin. Naturally, these cross-country flights generally have a huge amount of people who demand in-flight...
Read more...
International love? Delta's got plenty of that. While some foreign airlines have announced sporadic plans to bring in-flight Wi-Fi to planes making the leap over entire oceans, Delta is amongst the first of the legacy U.S.-based carriers to follow suit. Today, Delta's fleet is better covered with Gogo than most other legacy fleets, but that service only works in the United States. Travel overseas, and you're out of luck. Now, however, the company has announced that it will begin offering in-flight Internet service on its long-haul international fleet of more than 150 aircraft, which includes Boeing 777, 767, 747, Airbus 330 and transoceanic Boeing 757 aircraft in early 2013. That's a huge thing...
Read more...
Internet in the skies seemed like a pipe dream just a few years ago. But now, it's a reality in many ways. Airlines are stocking up on Gogo routers, and rival companies are spreading their wings as well. But one area that hasn't seen too many of those Wi-Fi waves are international routes. But, that's changing too. Gogo and global satellite operator SES have today announced they have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the goal of bringing high-speed, satellite-delivered Internet access to passengers aboard commercial airliners. That's a fancy way of saying that Gogo planes could see higher speeds, as well as wider availability. Gogo plans to tilize high-throughput Ku-band capacity...
Read more...
Bringing the Internet to rural places is one thing, but bringing it to every corner of the sky? That's a goal that we can also get behind. Gogo has delivered Wi-Fi to huge amounts of aircraft crisscrossing America. But, to truly dominate, you need the whole world looking your way. Thus, the company has partnered with satellite equipment provider, AeroSat, to bring a Ku-satellite solution to commercial airlines. A Ku-satellite solution will allow Gogo to offer airlines connectivity services that extend beyond the United States, including transoceanic routes. The company also notes that an arrangement is in place to "serve the needs of some of our airlines partners in the near-term until Inmarsat's...
Read more...
If you think wireless data companies have to worry about bandwidth on the ground, just try managing bandwidth in the air. Gogo knows all about it. After expanding from the darling of the skies into a sheer powerhouse, used to bring wireless Internet to hundreds upon hundreds of planes whisking around America each day, the company is now looking at ways to make sure the future is as bright as the present. The company has this week announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire the Airfone business unit from LiveTV, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways Corporation. The acquisition will give Gogo a 1 MHz spectrum license currently held by LiveTV. That may sound like mumbo-jumbo...
Read more...
In-flight Wi-Fi still feels like it's a futuristic thing, and Delta's been doing their best to expand Gogo's services to every plane they can. This week, the airline announced an expanded in-flight Wi-Fi effort as well as entertainment on-demand options, with Delta Connect offering free entertainment, shopping options and travel information. It's all part of Delta's $2 billion investment in the "flying experience," with Connect being a new in-flight portal that will be available exclusively to all customers using Wi-Fi on Delta aircraft; wireless movies and television on demand on Boeing 757-300 aircraft; and a more user-friendly design for Airbus A330 in-flight entertainment systems that include...
Read more...
Is Wi-Fi in an airplane more important than leg room, an on-time departure or friendly service? Depends on who you ask, but it's clear that Virgin America places a high value on keeping their patrons connected while cruising the friendly skies. The airline has just announced that they're first to launch Gogo's ATG-4 technology. Gogo's ATG-4 service will significantly enhance the ATG network and improve aircraft WiFi capacity to the plane by approximately four times the current performance through the addition of directional antenna, dual-modem and EV-DO Rev. B technologies. That's huge news for people who have struggled with Gogo's relatively slow service (it's not ISDN slow, but it's not exactly...
Read more...
Wi-Fi in the skies. Is there really anything more amazing, or more "futuristic?" The company responsible for much of that is Aircell, or as it's called now, Gogo. Aircell has officially become just "Gogo," mostly to signify the real driving purpose of the company. Aside from changing names, the company also announced a new in-air multimedia platform, which will extend beyond Internet connectivity to offer passengers exclusive access to online services that include real-time travel information, destination content, news and information, exclusive shopping deals and social network integration. Basically, Gogo wants to stream content from the cockpit to your computer. The good news is that this...
Read more...
It just got a little easier to hop online while cruising along in the friendly skies. Boingo announced today a new partnership with Aircell, the company that's responsible for bringing in-flight Wi-Fi to the vast majority of U.S. airliners that use it today. It's an interesting arrangement, and it's one that we suspect has more to do with marketing than anything else. Basically, the new deal allows existing Boingo subscribers to login and purchase a Gogo account with their existing username and password. If you aren't aware, Boingo provides access to a great many Wi-Fi hotspots in airports and abroad, and those with a monthly account can login to any of those hotspots without fuss. But here's...
Read more...
If we had to name one technology innovation of the past 10 years as one that really stood out, it would probably be in-flight Internet. Or, at least it would be in the Top 5. It's a technology that many thought we'd never see in our lifetimes, and it's here today. It isn't everywhere; it isn't on every plane. But airlines know that it's an important thing to have, and they're rolling it out continually. Aircell's Gogo service has become the de facto service out there, and while the company should be proud of what they have been able to accomplish thus far, there's always more. There's always a desire for more speed, more availability and more capacity. In a bid to make an even faster in-flight...
Read more...
Aircell today announced it has secured $35 million in private equity funding, proceeds of which will be used to expand the company's Gogo Inflight service for both commercial and business flights. As it stands, Gogo already serves nine of the top 11 U.S. airlines and offers inflight Internet on 6,000 business aircraft, Aircell says. "2010 was the year inflight Internet went mainstream and Aircell established its leadership in this exciting new mobile Internet venue," said Michael Small, Aircell President and CEO. "Since securing our exclusive spectrum license in 2006, we've raised more than $500 million." Aircell has ambitious plans for 2011. The company said it wants to increase its install...
Read more...
